Man who hit bar patron said he acted in defense of self, friend

Defendant Michael Platt leaves court June 3, 2015, during a break in his first-degree murder trial for the slaying of Ryan Flannigan at Cook County Circuit Court in Rolling Meadows.

Defendant Michael Platt leaves court June 3, 2015, during a break in his first-degree murder trial for the slaying of Ryan Flannigan at Cook County Circuit Court in Rolling Meadows.

(Stacey Wescott, Chicago Tribune)

George HoudeChicago Tribune

Bar patron testifies that the man he killed had raised his fist at him first.

The man accused of killing another man with a single punch to the head outside of a Palatine bar took the witness stand Thursday and said he was defending himself and his friend.

Michael Platt, 36, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Ryan Flannigan after their respective groups of friends exchanged words last summer.

Prosecutors and their witnesses have said that Platt blindsided Flannigan, 26, with the punch as Flannigan tried to calm tensions between the two groups.

But Platt, his attorneys and other defense witnesses called to the stand Thursday sought to paint a different picture, saying members of Flannigan's group were taunting a friend of Platt's, prompting Platt to intervene.

Testifying with a calm voice and manner, Platt said that he watched three people approach his friend and then saw one grab his friend's arm and another push him.

"I went over there to try and stop the situation. I didn't want to see my friend get knocked down and beat up. ... (Flannigan) brought his hand back like he was going to hit me, so I hit him once," Platt said.

Flannigan died 10 days later. A neurologist who treated him said the punch itself caused more severe damage than the injuries that occurred when Flannigan fell to the ground and struck his head on the pavement.